Iran: no sign of former FBI agent
{{date|April 23, 2007}}

[[w:Hojjatol-Islam|Hojjatol-Islam]] [[w:Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehei|Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie]], the [[w:Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|intelligence minister]] of [[Iran]], stated in the report released today that Iran is investigating the disappearance of Robert Levinson, an ex-[[FBI]] agent from Florida since his trip to Iran's [[w:Kish Island|Kish Island]] who went missing while in Iran on private business, in March. He is believed to have gone missing several weeks ago on the island of Kish.

Iran has not confirmed the U.S. citizen entered its territory.  Nonetheless, the State Department spokesman said, "To the best of our knowledge we have been able to determine that he went (to Iran) ... and we have not seen any evidence that he left."  The State Department contacted Iranian authorities regarding the matter from the [[United States|U.S.]] Embassy in the [[United Arab Emirates]] capital [[w:Abu Dhabi|Abu Dhabi]] earlier.  Later, Iran relayed a reply to the U.S. via the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] embassy in [[w:Tehran|Tehran]] which acts as a go-between since there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On April 3, the FBI said that he has not worked for them in a decade nor is he a contractor for them. A U.S. State Department spokesperson declined to give name, age or occupation of the missing man at the time. The spokesperson also said that they have no indication that he is being held by any Iranian entity.

There were rumors that Iran wanted to swap the former FBI agent for [[w:Ali-Reza Askari|Ali-Reza Askari]].  Askari, who was a deputy defense minister of Iran, had defected.  However, Hujjat al-Islam Mohseni-Ejei denied such stories.

==Related News==
*{{wikinews|title=Wikinews Shorts: April 16, 2007|date=April 16, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Wikinews Shorts: April 3, 2007|date=April 3, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=7090&sectionid=351020101
|title=No evidence of FBI agent in Iran|author=
|pub=Press TV
|date= April 23, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070422192424.83h3h2t1&cat=null
|title=Iran has 'no clues' on missing US citizen
|author=
|pub=Agence France-Presse
|date=April 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1926448720070419?feedType=RSS
|title=Iran tells U.S. it has no details on ex-FBI agent
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=April 19, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/Rest_of_World/Iran_denies_missing_US_citizen_detained/articleshow/1918501.cms
|title=Iran denies missing US citizen detained
|author=
|pub=The Times of India
|date=April 17, 2007 }}
*{{source|url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_5624389
|title=Iran says it's looking for missing ex-FBI agent
|author=
|pub=The Denver Post
|date=April 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263920,00.html
|title=Iran Indicates It Will Help in Search for Missing Ex-FBI Agent
|author=
|pub=Fox News
|date=April 4, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:FBI]]
[[Category:Missing persons]]
Hojjatol-Islam Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie, the intelligence minister of Iran, stated in the report released today that Iran is investigating the disappearance of Robert Levinson, an ex-FBI agent from Florida since his trip to Iran's Kish Island who went missing while in Iran on private business, in March. He is believed to have gone missing several weeks ago on the island of Kish.

Iran has not confirmed the U.S. citizen entered its territory.  Nonetheless, the State Department spokesman said, "To the best of our knowledge we have been able to determine that he went (to Iran) ... and we have not seen any evidence that he left."  The State Department contacted Iranian authorities regarding the matter from the U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi earlier.  Later, Iran relayed a reply to the U.S. via the Swiss embassy in Tehran which acts as a go-between since there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On April 3, the FBI said that he has not worked for them in a decade nor is he a contractor for them. A U.S. State Department spokesperson declined to give name, age or occupation of the missing man at the time. The spokesperson also said that they have no indication that he is being held by any Iranian entity.

There were rumors that Iran wanted to swap the former FBI agent for Ali-Reza Askari.  Askari, who was a deputy defense minister of Iran, had defected.  However, Hujjat al-Islam Mohseni-Ejei denied such stories.
Politics and conflicts Crime and law Middle East Iran United States North America FBI Missing persons